Zak Brown Issues Statement After McLaren Acquires...

Zak Brown Issues Statement After McLaren Acquires…read more

McLaren CEO Zak Brown has shared his thoughts following the acquisition of the remaining shares in Arrow McLaren, marking a significant milestone in the team’s expansion within IndyCar racing. This move gives McLaren Racing full ownership of the team, with the purchase of the remaining shares previously held by Sam Schmidt and Ric Peterson. McLaren had already been involved with Arrow McLaren for several years, initially taking a 75% stake in the team in 2021.

Arrow McLaren, originally founded in 2001 as Sam Schmidt Motorsports by former IndyCar driver Sam Schmidt, has undergone a series of transformations. In 2013, Schmidt partnered with Ric Peterson, and the team became Schmidt Peterson Motorsports. In 2020, the team rebranded as Arrow McLaren SP, a move that marked its growing alignment with the McLaren Formula 1 team. The team’s connection to McLaren deepened in 2021 when the British outfit purchased a majority stake, setting the stage for the full acquisition in 2024.

Zak Brown, who took over as McLaren CEO in 2018, expressed his excitement about the buyout, signaling the company’s commitment to strengthening its presence in North America, a crucial market for both McLaren and its fans. In his statement, Brown emphasized that McLaren’s focus on IndyCar is an essential part of the company’s broader strategy. “This is an exciting step for McLaren Racing as we grow and strengthen our presence in North America, which is a very important market for our team and our fans,” he said. “Sam Schmidt and Ric Peterson have been great partners and co-owners, and I want to thank them as we continue to build what they started many years ago. We are now in a position to fully leverage